Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio (black)

More on this product: review; user reviews; specifications; compare; shop

Print
E-mail
Share

CNET editors' rating: 3.5 stars Very good
Detailed editors' rating

Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 29 reviews
See all user reviews

Product summary

The good: The Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio in-ear-style headphones deliver accurate sound for a reasonable price, and they offer a comfortable, secure fit.

The bad The bad: The Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio earphones' cable is too short for tall users.

The bottom line: Ultimate Ears' no-frills Super.fi 3 Studio in-ear headphones deliver a clear, balanced audio response. This set should be your top choice in the $100 price range.

Specifications: Product type: Headphones; Design: In-ear canalphone; Color: Black; See full specs

Price range: $78.00 - $89.10

See all products in the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio series

CNET editors' review

Reviewed by: Tim Gideon
Edited by: Jasmine France
Reviewed on: 02/23/2006

Ultimate Ears, maker of the custom-molded professional earphones that you see bands such as U2 and the Red Hot Chili Peppers wearing onstage, decided a few years back to make commercial earphones, and the results have been overwhelming. Listeners with champagne taste but beer money (well, OK, premium beer money) will appreciate the Super.fi 3 Studio in-ear set. Unlike other similarly priced earphones on the market today, the Super.fi 3s do not offer extreme bass (another model from Ultimate Ears takes care of that--the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 EB). What they do offer is excellent, flat response with enough low end, as well as crisp mids and highs, not to mention ample sound isolation.

The design of the Ultimate Ears Super.fi earphone series is based in comfort and simplicity, though you do get a choice of three colors: white, black, or clear (the last is available exclusively at Guitar Center retail stores). The earpieces, after a bit of twisting, sit firmly and comfortably in the ear canal, and the different sizes of earpiece covers not only aid this process but also effectively block out most room noise, making them ideal for noisier environments, such as airplanes or subway trains. Like other Ultimate Ears 'buds, these have the flexible plastic ear loop that wraps over the top of your ear for a secure fit. These are helpful for active use but can be a pain when you're trying to put on the headphones in a hurry. Our common gripe about the Super.fi series holds true for the Super.fi 3 Studios: At 46 inches, the cable is simply too short for anyone above average height. If your sound source is not in your lap or your pocket, your head movement is quite limited.

The Super.fi 3 Studio headphones come with various ear tips, an earpiece cleaner, and a soft carrying case.

Most of the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio's features reside in the design of the headphones, though the company also includes a decent smattering of accessories. Along with five sets of ear fittings, you get a soft leather case and a cleaner pick. One of the niftiest features of these earphones--and all the other Ultimate Ears sets we've tested--is the user-replaceable cable. The earpieces easily snap off so that if the cable wears out, you can easily swap in a new one. (Note that you'll be responsible for replacing the cable--only the earpieces are covered by the two-year warranty.) Inside each earpiece, there's a precision-balanced speaker and an audio filter that shapes the sound. Basically, what this equates to is excellent performance.

See more CNET content tagged:: Ultimate Ears,; earphone,; headphones

User reviews

Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 29 reviews
My rating: 0 stars Write review

Showing 3 of 29 user reviewsSee all 29 user reviews
4.5 stars

18 out of 18 people found this review helpful

"These are Excellent IEMs"

by Glorybox3737 on February 24, 2006

read more
2.0 stars

15 out of 19 people found this review helpful

"Started Great. Now...not so much"

by kubasic on February 9, 2006

read more
4.5 stars

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

"You don't need to look any further for <$100 in-ear headphones"

by matt87109 on February 27, 2007

read more
See all 29 user reviews Write review

Submit your review

Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio (black)

1. Rate this product:: (Mouse over the stars to rate this product and click to set your rating.)
2. One-line summary:(Summarize your review in one line. 10 characters minimum; required.): 0 of 55 characters
3. Pros:(Tell us what you like about this product. 10 characters minimum; required.): 0 of 250 characters
4. Cons:(Tell us what you don't like about this product. 10 characters minimum; required.): 0 of 250 characters
Bottom-line summary:(Explain to us in detail why you like or dislike the product, focusing your comments on the product's features and functionality, and your experience using the product. This field is optional.): 0 of 5000 characters; Submit

Where to buy

Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio (black): $78.00 - $89.10

store	price	in stock?
Buy.com	$84.99	Yes
Next Warehouse	$89.10	No
TheNerds.net	$85.99	Yes

see prices from 3 stores

Reviews from
around the WebPowered by alaTest

techpowerup.com

Editors' rating: 95

Summary: The Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio is a very remarkable product offering performance that previously was only available to people willing to spend well in excess of $200. During the past week I have spent a lot of time listening to the Super.fi 3 Studios

Read full review
the-gadgeteer.com

Read full review
pcmag.com

Editors' rating: 80

Summary: The Ultimate Ears super.fi 3 Studio earphones provide good sound and isolation, stay securely in your ears, and are comfortable enough for extended listening.

Read full review